Don’t Throw Out Your Coffee Grounds
(Image credit: Anna Hoychuk) shutterstock From Kitchn → 5 Ways You Can Use Leftover Coffee Grounds Around the Home
Nov 9, 2016
Party Time-Savers: Experts Say These Essentials Are Better Store-Bought Over Homemade
Here is a short list of things you’re unlikely to hear at a party: “Let’s start a game of Monopoly.” “Oh I love discussing politics.” And of course, from the host: “I wish I spent more time in the kitchen and away from my guests.
Nov 9, 2016
Before & After: A Modern Update for a Brooklyn Bathroom
Remember Sophia and Leon’s Manhattan apartment? Last week we witnessed the transformation of their kitchen, and this week we’re looking at the overhaul of the unit’s main bathroom. While the old bathroom wasn’t yet completely falling apart, it had poorly installed, mismatched fixtures — and the fact that it needed to serve for three people meant extra storage space would be welcome.
Nov 9, 2016
Before & After: Adding Wow to a Home Workspace for $35
Sara is running towards the thesis finish line (go Sara!) and decided to revamp her work space to make it more comfortable and inspiring. Her sister gave her a back-friendly desk as a gift and she was able to add color and style to the space for under $35! From Sara: Since last month, I’ve been working from home two or three times a week because I am way more productive there and, as I have the deadlines for my Ph.D. thesis looming, I can’t afford any distractions.
Nov 9, 2016
An Actor’s Modern New York Apartment Gets Warmed Up
Project by: Carrie McCall of CKM Home Design Location: New York, New York Springtime in Central Park year-round? Yes, please! Good thing Carrie McCall of CKM Home Design figured out how to give one homeowner just that with a large-scale cherry blossom mural right next to a floor-to-ceiling window.
Nov 9, 2016
The Evolution of the Perfect Studio Apartment Layout, Illustrated
Emily Schildt, co-founder of Thing of Wonder, lives in 400 square feet in Brooklyn. But beyond the challenge of living in a small space, she also has to tackle the challenge of living in just one room. Not only is her Fort Greene studio apartment lovely, it’s also highly functional…for her! As an avid entertainer, she’s chosen a furniture layout that works for how she lives — which in her case means the unusual choice of placing her bed right near the front door.
Nov 9, 2016
Love Planning Ahead? You Can Prep These Things Now for Thanksgiving Dinner
(Image credit: Brent Hofacke) shutterstock From Kitchn → Here’s What You Can Prep Now for Thanksgiving Dinner
Nov 9, 2016
Techniques for Decluttering Without Emotion (When You’re an Emotional Person)
So, you’re a “stuff” person. It’s okay—a lot of people get emotionally attached to their things (myself included!) to a point where it’s hard to get rid of anything that has any sort of meaning to it. But you probably know, on some level, that collecting things you don’t need and don’t use can lead to a ton of clutter, especially if you live in a small space or lack an abundance of storage.
Nov 9, 2016
Decorating Ideas Worth Stealing: IKEA Holiday Catalog
IKEA’s winter photoshoots are treasure troves of seasonal inspiration. Even if you don’t buy a single ornament from them this year, take these styling tips and decorating ideas back to your own home. Some are tweaks on familiar tradition, but all of them embrace the warm atmosphere and special feeling of the holidays. Go Dark: Instead of bright colors and garish decorations, go for a moodier, cozier space (lead image above).
Nov 8, 2016
How To Add the Look of Brick, Marble & Even Shiplap to Your Home (Without Remodeling)
If you’ve always wished your apartment had a charming exposed brick wall, or a luxe slab of marble, or an entire kitchen of patterned Moroccan tile—your dream just came true. Recently, more and more wallpaper companies are producing designs that imitate these highly-coveted materials, so you can get the look without remodeling. At first glance, no one will guess these aren’t the real deal.
Nov 8, 2016
Where to Get Free Stuff With Your “I Voted” Sticker
It’s Election Day in the US, and other than voting, you can celebrate in the most American way possible: getting free stuff. If you need a little more incentive to snag your own “I Voted” sticker (or just want to congratulate yourself for exercising your constitutional rights), here are the places offering freebies today. Bertucci’s: Free cannoli when you buy an entree Bob Evans: 30% off your total bill after 2 p.m.
Nov 8, 2016
Before & After: Hooray for This IKEA Hamper Hack
Out of context it is kind of hard to tell what this is, let alone take a guess as to what it’s going to become. Surprise! It’s an old IKEA hamper! After you’ve recovered from that news, scroll down and see Dan’s impressive hamper hack. From Dan: I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I saw this a few years ago on Apartment Therapy and knew I had to repurpose an old IKEA hamper that was collecting dust.
Nov 8, 2016
Ever Wondered What Your Favorite Thanksgiving Side Says About You? This Quiz is Here to Help
(Image credit: Leela Cyd) From Kitchn → The Thanksgiving Side Dish Personality Quiz: What Does Your Favorite Thanksgiving Side Say About You?
Nov 8, 2016
A Small & Cozy Brooklyn Studio That’s Still Guest Friendly
Name: Anna Location: Flatbush — Brooklyn, New York I’ve been living in this tiny studio apartment in Flatbush, Brooklyn for just over two years. Living alone was a longtime goal of mine and I knew that I’d have to sacrifice size in order to have my own roommate-free space. But it was a trade that I was happy to make—plus, my place has several features that make it seem larger than it really is.
Nov 7, 2016
Here’s What to Snag at Sephora’s VIB Sale
Beauty fans, it’s the most wonderful time of the year—Sephora’s VIB sale. If you’re a VIB or VIB Rouge member of the retailer’s Beauty Insider rewards program, you get 20% off your entire purchase for a few days this month. Here’s what we’re adding to our shopping carts. Through today, November 7, VIB Rouge members can save using code 20ROUGE, while VIB sale dates are November 11-14 with code 20VIB.
Nov 7, 2016
Our Panel of Entertaining Experts Spill Their Party-Hosting Secrets
Whether you’re the Martha of your friend group—whipping up a charcuterie board with all the finesse of a seasoned pro—or someone who thinks throwing a party feels just about as foreign as an original French copy of Je Sais Cuisiner, I know this is true: we all want to get better at entertaining.
Nov 7, 2016
Do Millennials Make the Worst Houseguests? The Bad Behavior Study
The short answer? Yes—Millennials do make the worst houseguests, according to a recent study from HomeAdvisor. But the reality behind it is a little more nuanced than it seems. In the study, 2,000 people in the U.S. were asked to confess both their biggest pet peeves and their worst houseguest habits, from a list of 27 bad behaviors. Each generation—Millennials, Gen Xers and Baby Boomers—had a slightly different take on what bothered them most.
Nov 7, 2016
Before & After: From Mismatched Hot Mess to Sleek Space
Kelly’s kitchen was dark and outdated with baffling pops of color. She felt the only way to save the space was to start over completely. From Kelly: Our original kitchen was just terrible. It was a hodgepodge of multi-colored wood and metal cabinets. Some were missing doors, drawers and handles. I found out that the oven was broken and leaking gas in the house, and the refrigerator matched the avocado green walls. In summary, this kitchen was a hot mess.
Nov 7, 2016
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for this Totally Glam New York Home
Project by: Sasha Bikoff of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design Location: New York, New York Few homes can perfectly pull off the coolest oversized pop art painting of ice cream next to lavish baroque furnishings, but interior designer Sasha Bikoff did just that. For the New York-born and based designer, this Upper East Side stunner provided ample opportunity to put her background in fine arts and art history to the test and boy did she not disappoint.
Nov 7, 2016
Partner
Let’s Talk About Clean Furniture and Furry Pets
The pros of having pets on the sofa/in your bed/at the table are pretty clear: tons of cuddles, someone to pick up all the dinner crumbs, and no sad puppy dog eyes (or judgy cat eyes) when your loved one feels lefts out. But let’s face it: The hair gets everywhere. So, let’s talk about your pet hair strategies. Vacuums are, of course, the first line of defense if pets are allowed on the furniture.
Nov 7, 2016
Unexpected Fall Pastel Color Palettes Inspired by Nature
Who says colors for fall decorating can’t be dreamy and soft? We’re not suggesting you trade in your pumpkin lattes for milky matchas or spiced gingerbread for lavender macaroons, but these landscape-inspired color palettes may influence your Thanksgiving tabletop to embrace the hazy hues that are often overlooked in the transition from summer to autumn.
Nov 6, 2016
Simple 5-Minute Projects Are the Secret To This Small Kitchen’s Success
We recently finished redoing Tara’s rental kitchen, transforming it from a 1970s nightmare into a more livable and lovable space. After doing the more substantial stuff — like painting cabinets and redo-ing the floors — we added a bunch of space-saving storage to make it a small kitchen superstar. It doesn’t take much, just a few 5-minute projects here and there.
Nov 6, 2016
The Secret Weapon in Your Beauty Bag: 6 Things to Clean With Nail Polish Remover
If you’ve ever had to spend 45 minutes scrubbing glitter polish from your fingernails, you know how powerful nail polish remover can be. Nail polish remover traditionally contains acetone (though you can buy non-acetone polish remover that’s a lot less harsh) and that acetone can actually be helpful when it comes to cleaning up around your house.
Nov 6, 2016
A Gorgeous, Art Deco-Inspired New York Kitchen Remodel
Project by: David Katz of Katz Architecture Location: New York, New York Blessed with beautiful 1920s bones, this gorgeous kitchen just needed to blossom from its cramped IKEA cocoon into a gorgeous custom butterfly. The owner, an architect themselves, turned to David Katz to help this kitchen reach its full potential.
Nov 6, 2016
This Tiny Pottery Is Made On a Mini Potter’s Wheel
Whether you self-identify as a “miniac” or not, there is something so impressive about the work of Jon Almeda of Almeda Pottery. Not only are his pieces gorgeous, but they’re also not much larger than pocket change. A photo posted by JON ALMEDA (@almedapottery) on Oct 31, 2016 at 5:20pm PDT src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.
Nov 5, 2016
A Harmonious Blend of Styles in Oakland
Name: Sam E., Stephanie Libanati and Lorena Jimenez Location: Lower Bottoms — Oakland, California Size: 1,610 square feet Years lived in: 8 months; Rented When Sam E. was looking for an apartment earlier this year, she felt so lucky when she hit it off with Stephanie and Lorena on the day they met.
Nov 5, 2016
Two Creatives Put Down Roots in a New Nashville Home
Name: Lisa & Sam Location: Nashville, Tennessee My fiancé and I recently moved from Sydney, Australia to Nashville, TN and we are so excited to share our home with you! Sydney to Nashville was a very big move, and it was incredibly overwhelming to figure out how to logistically move around the world. So in the end, we decided to sell most of our belongings in Sydney and start fresh in the USA.
Nov 4, 2016
This Weekend: Don’t Let This Stand In The Way of Your Holiday
There’s a lot of pressure around hosting this time of year. When guests arrive, you’re not only spending a lot of time with those friends and family, but you’re also responsible (at least in part) for their holiday memories. With only a couple of weekends until Thanksgiving (and plenty of other holidays on its heels), are you and your home ready? If not, then this weekend, smooth the way to a stress-free experience where Thanksgiving goes off without a hitch.
Nov 4, 2016
Await The Apocalypse In This (Surprisingly Stylish) Virginia Bunker
Well, the US presidential election is a mere four days away, and no matter what side of the political divide you’re on, you probably believe the end of the world is coming, should the other candidate win. Perhaps it’s time to take shelter in this partially underground concrete home in Virginia. Built by architect Donald Reed Chandler in 1977, it’s one of the country’s first modern earth roof and berm homes.
Nov 4, 2016
6 Modern Ways to Take Your Gratitude Practice to the Next Level
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to kick your gratitude practice up a notch. Gratitude is a super tool for living a happy life, and the modern way to do it is nothing like the gradeschool-style hand turkeys marked with notions like “I’m thankful for my mom and Lego.
Nov 4, 2016
Hygge in a Jar: 5 Candles That Will Give You All the Feels of the Holidays
I’m a self-professed candle connoisseur: At any given hour, I could have three or four going in my living room. I wholeheartedly believe they can set the tone for the season and make any space feel instantly homey. I may live in South Florida, far, far away from changing leaves and apple picking, but gosh darnit, if I have anything to do with it, my apartment is going to smell like a cinnamon-spiced pumpkin apple pie baking in a orchard once autumn rolls in.
Nov 4, 2016
Before & After: Long Neglected Chairs Finally Find Time To Shine
Patience is a virtue for both Faith and these poor little ripped up chairs. After waiting a few years, they finally got their day in the sun — and boy was it worth it. From Faith: Back when I first opened my shop in the later part of 2012 I was in a real junk-hungry state. Possibly it stemmed from being overly optimistic, like that pathetic chic who still sees potential in her boyfriend even though he’s in jail, again.
Nov 4, 2016
Decorating Black Holes: The 7 Most Easily Forgotten Spots
Your windowsills are just the beginning.
Nov 4, 2016
This Subscription Service Offers (High Quality, Vegan, Cruelty-Free!) Toiletries, All For Under $5
Direct to consumer goods has been the trending model for everything from sweaters to mattresses to luggage, eliminating the middleman and saving the customer money. Morgans debuted last year offering a subscription box for high quality toiletries that did just that. And while $8 for natural shampoo is a good deal, the price could be lower—like $1.96, the actual cost to make the product.
Nov 4, 2016
The Best Bar Carts for Under $250
Nov 4, 2016
What it Costs to Rent a 2000-Square-Foot Apartment in 5 Different U.S. Cities
Two thousand square feet is massive in almost anyone’s book, so you can expect that apartments in this tier are going to fetch top dollar in any region. But “top dollar,” it turns out, is quite different depending on where you happen to be apartment hunting. Although SLC and NYC don’t seem all that different when you abbreviate them, living in a rental in the former would be about $6,000 cheaper than the latter.
Nov 4, 2016
A Playful & Colorful Cambridge Home
Name: Jossie & Kenny Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts My husband Kenny and I have rented this apartment for about one year. It’s around 800 square feet, is one of six units in our “double triple decker,” and is surrounded by other houses on all sides in our dense neighborhood. Luckily, the surrounding trees make it feel private and tree-house-like.
Nov 3, 2016
Start Prepping For the Holidays With Your November Checklist!
As both the weather and daylight shift this month, we’re spending more time indoors — preparing for the upcoming holidays, welcoming guests, and prepping the house for winter. Your job is to keep both the cold (and colds!) at bay, and make your home a warm and comfortable place to be. Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov 3, 2016
5 Trader Joe’s Discoveries From a First Timer
(Image credit: Michaela Cisney) From Kitchn → 5 Things I Learned the First Time I Went to Trader Joe’s
Nov 3, 2016
Put a W on It: 4 Weird Items to Celebrate the Cubs’ World Series Win
HOLY COW! The Cubs broke a 108-year curse and won the World Series and the city of Chicago is reeling. Be you a die-hard supporter, bandwagon fan or Bill Murray, you’re probably still celebrating this momentous occasion. Or perhaps you’re a Chicago native who doesn’t really care about sports, but is breathing a sigh of relief at how easy your holiday shopping just got (hi mom). Turns out there’s a Cubs logo on just about anything, and here are some choice selects.
Nov 3, 2016
The Secret to Happiness at Home is Hygge — Here are 9 Ways to Practice it this Winter
Finding the words to convey sentimental feelings can be hard sometimes. Yet, the opposite is true when it comes to the Danish term “hygge.” Although there is literally no single translation for the concept (pronounced hoo-gah or hue-gah) the Danes use hygge to describe the warm feelings of happiness, comfort, and coziness—not unlike our idea of holiday spirit—they strive to achieve during the cold weather season.
Nov 3, 2016
Before & After: A Simple Yet Dramatic Guest Room
Courtney and John felt that they could take a leap of design faith in their guest room. A dark and daring ceiling and some funky, textured decor helped shape the room into an interesting and inviting space. From Courtney & John: In our opinion, a guest room renovation is the best kind of renovation! Though you want the room to be cohesive with the rest of your home, you don’t have to live in it everyday, so you can afford to take some risks.
Nov 3, 2016